Saturday, December 12, 2009

While you are enjoying the many tasty treats that abound this holiday season, don't forget to share some goodies with the birds. Decorating a tree for our feathered friends and other wildlife is an activity the whole family can enjoy. Here are some fun and easy recipes for making treats for the birds.

Pine Cone Feeder1. Tie natural rough brown string around the top of a pinecone.

2. Pack Peanut Butter into pinecone.3. Roll pinecone in Wild Birds Unlimited (WBU) Seed.4. Hang from a tree.Be sure to select a tree somewhere near a window so that once you have completed your decorating, you and your family can sit back and watch the beautiful birds enjoy their holiday treats.

Wild Bird Seed Cookies (makes 2-3 dozen)1. Combine 2 c. flour, 1/2 c. sugar and 1/2 tsp. baking powder.2. Add 1/2 WBU suet cake or 1/2 c. butter or shortening3. Mix until crumbly.4. Drop in two eggs – shells and all.5. Blend 1/2 c. WBU birdseed into the dough.6. Refrigerate for 1 hour.7. Roll out the cookie dough to about 1/4-inch thick.8. Cut out shapes with cookie cutters9. Use a drinking straw to make a hole in the center of each cookie to hang the cookies later.

10. Bake at 325° F for 12-15 minutes or until cookies harden. Let them cool.11. Cut twine and string up cookies.

Additional Treat IdeasOther decorations that can be strung and placed on trees include popcorn, fresh cranberries, thick fresh orange slices, peanuts in the shell, dried apples or dried figs. You can also string rice cakes, crab apples, baby dried corn bundles, or grapes.

Natural rough brown string, ribbon and raffia can be used for hanging the decorations. The birds will use this material for nesting in the spring.